Rice processing support system

Abstract

To make it easy to instruct setting of rice cooking to a rice processing machine from the outside.SOLUTION: A rice processing supporting system includes: a rice cooking machine provided in each of a plurality of shops in which one or a plurality of rice cooking machines are provided; and an external apparatus that is installed at a place differing from that of the rice cooking machine and is arranged so as to perform transmission / reception of data with the rice cooking machine provided in each of the plurality of shops. The external apparatus is provided with a rice cooking setting creation unit for newly creating a setting value that is setting in rice cooking. The external apparatus requests provision place information including current setting information to the rice cooking machine. The rice cooking machine transmits the current setting information. When the current rice cooking setting value differs from the newly created setting value, the external apparatus displays a shop or a rice processing machine.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a rice processing support system. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a technique related to a rice processing support system is known from Patent Document 1. The rice cooking information management system for a commercial rice washing and cooking machine in Patent Document 1 installs a commercial rice washing and cooking machine equipped with a rice washing machine for washing rice and a rice cooking pot for cooking the rice washed in the rice washing machine in a store, installs a terminal connected by communication with the commercial rice washing and cooking machine installed in each of a number of stores in a management building separate from the stores, transmits information on the amount of cooked rice after the rice cooking operation is completed to the terminal, and the terminal calculates the cumulative amount of cooked rice per unit period during which the rice was cooked in the rice washing and cooking operation, and displays it on the display screen of the terminal. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-10184 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Although Patent Document 1 makes it possible to grasp the daily cooked rice volume and cumulative cooked rice volume for each store, the reality is that it is difficult to grasp the rice processing status, such as the cooked rice volume, for a specific time period. Also, it is difficult to grasp the processing status of the rice processing machine itself for a specific period of time.

[0005] In view of the above problems, the present invention has an object to provide a rice processing support system that can easily grasp the actual rice processing results over a specified period for each rice processing machine. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The technical means adopted by the present invention to solve the above problems are characterized as follows.

[0007] The rice processing support system of the present invention is a rice processing support system having a plurality of stores each equipped with one or more rice cookers that cook rice, one or more rice cookers installed in each of the plurality of stores, and an external device that is installed in a location different from the rice cookers and is arranged to transmit and receive data between the one or more rice cookers installed in each of the plurality of stores, wherein the external device is provided with a rice cooking setting creation unit that creates new setting values ​​that are settings for cooking rice in the rice cookers by inputting information into a setting screen of the external device, Including rice cooker The rice processing machine is equipped with a setting correction unit that corrects the setting value newly created by the rice cooking setting creation unit, and the external device is equipped with a restriction input unit that sets items for which correction of the setting value by the setting correction unit is permitted and items for which correction of the setting value by the setting correction unit is not permitted, and the external device transmits the setting value newly created by the rice cooking setting creation unit to each of one or more rice cookers installed in the multiple stores, and the external device requests each of the one or more rice cookers to transmit to the external device information for providing location including the current setting value selected by each of the rice cookers, and in response to the request of the external device, the one or more rice cookers transmit the current setting value to the external device as the providing location information, and if the current setting value transmitted from the rice cooker differs from the setting value newly created by the rice cooking setting creation unit, the external device determines that the rice cooker is not cooking rice using the newly created setting value and displays the stores or rice processing machines that are not cooking rice using the newly created setting value.

[0009] The rice cooker includes a display device for inputting a first rice cooking setting value, which is a current setting for the rice cooking, and a display device for inputting a new setting value for the rice cooking. Created on The above Setting Value and a communication device capable of receiving the Good . Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to easily grasp the actual rice processing results for each rice processing machine during a specified period. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall view of a rice processing support system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a control block diagram. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a front view of the rice processing machine 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the drain jacket and the drain box. [Diagram 5] FIG. [Figure 6A] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an initial screen M1. [Figure 6B] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a menu set screen M2. [Figure 6C] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a reservation screen M3. [Figure 7A] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of rice processing results. [Figure 7B] This is a diagram showing an example of rice processing results on May 26, 2019. [Figure 7C] This is a diagram showing an example of rice processing results for rice cooked from 2:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on May 26, 2019. [Figure 8A] FIG. 7C is a diagram showing an example of a performance display screen M4 corresponding to FIG. 7B. [Figure 8B] FIG. 7D is a diagram showing an example of a performance display screen M4 corresponding to FIG. 7C. [Figure 9A] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a planning screen M5. [Figure 9B] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an input screen M6. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a rice processing plan displayed on the performance display screen M4. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of yield for each store. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen M7. [Figure 13A]FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a second rice cooking setting value to be transmitted to a store. [Figure 13B] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of rice cooking setting values ​​of a rice processing machine installed in a store. [Figure 14A] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a notification screen M8. [Figure 14B] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another example of the notification screen M8. [Figure 15] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a cleaning instruction screen M9. [Figure 16A] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the relationship between cleaning locations and cleaning judgment criteria corresponding to the cleaning locations. [Figure 16B] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of cleaning information. [Figure 17] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a cleaning flow. [Figure 18A] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a cleaning status screen M10. [Figure 18B] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another example of the cleaning status screen M10. [Figure 19A] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a cleaning instruction screen M11. [Figure 19B] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a message displayed on the display device of store A1. [Figure 20A] 4 is a diagram showing an example of operation information of the rice washing tank, the stirring member, the water supply and drainage device, and the rice cooker. FIG. [Figure 20B] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of operation information stored in a storage device of a rice processing apparatus. [Figure 21] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an operation information screen M12. [Figure 22] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a replacement database of operation information and part replacement timings. [Diagram 23] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an exchange message displayed on the display device of machine No. 1 of store A. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] FIG. 1 shows an overall view of the rice processing support system. The rice processing support system is a system that provides various types of support to a rice processing machine 1 that processes rice (rice processing). The rice processing machine 1 is installed at a place (providing place) H1 that provides cooked rice, such as a restaurant, a corporate cafeteria, or a school lunch center. The rice processing support system includes an external device 2 installed at a place H2 different from the providing place H1. The rice processing machine 1 installed at the providing place H1 and the external device 2 are capable of communicating via a network. The external device 2 is a fixed personal computer, a server, or the like, and in this embodiment, is a support device that supports the rice processing machine 1. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the external device 2 will be explained as the "support device 2."

[0014] Below, we will explain the rice processing support system in detail using a restaurant as an example.

[0015] The rice processing machine 1 is installed in each of a plurality of stores, which are the supply locations H1, for example, store A, store B, and store C. A communication device (third communication device) 3 is installed in each of the plurality of stores (store A, store B, and store C). The third communication device 3 is a communication device that relays the connection between the rice processing machine 1 and the support device 2, and is capable of transmitting and receiving data (information) between the rice processing machine 1 and the support device 2 via the third communication device 3. Specifically, the third communication device 3 connects to the support device 2 via a mobile phone communication network or a data communication network. The third communication device 3 is connected to the rice processing machine 1 via, for example, the IEEE802.11 series of communication standards such as Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity, registered trademark), BLE (Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy), LPWA (Low Power, Wide Area), and LPWAN (Low-Power Wide-Area Network), or via a wired connection. One or more rice processing machines 1 are installed in each of the multiple stores, and the one or more rice processing machines 1 communicate with a third communication device 3 installed in each store.

[0016] First, the rice processing machine 1 will be described.

[0017] Figure 3 shows the rice processing machine 1. The rice processing machine 1 shown in Figure 3 is an apparatus capable of storing rice, washing rice, and cooking rice. The rice processing machine 1 is equipped with a rice storage 12 for storing rice, a rice washing device 13, a rice cooker 14 for cooking the rice washed in the rice washing device 13, an equipment frame 15 for supporting the rice cooker 14, the rice storage 12, and the rice washing device 13, and a water supply and drainage device 16.

[0018] The rice storage 12 has a case 12a formed in a substantially box shape and a funnel-shaped rice storage tank 12b provided inside the case 12a. A lid 10 is provided on the top of the case 12a so as to be freely opened and closed, and rice can be replenished into the rice storage tank 12b by opening the lid 10. A display device 50 for performing various settings is provided on the front of the case 12a.

[0019] A weighing device 19 is provided at the bottom of the rice storage tank 12b. The weighing device 19 has, for example, a rotatably supported cylindrical body. The cylindrical body has an introduction section through which rice is introduced from the rice storage tank 12b, and is configured to measure the rice in the rice storage tank 12b and send it to the rice washing device 13 by rotating the cylindrical body a predetermined number of times.

[0020] The rice washing device 13 is a device that washes rice, and is equipped with a rice washing tank 22 that washes rice. The rice washing tank 22 is equipped with a rice washing tank 22a into which rice is poured, and a stirring member 22b that stirs the rice in the rice washing tank 22a. The rice washing tank 22a can be attached and detached by operating a hook member 21 provided on the lower side of the rice storage 12 (case 12a). When the cylinder of the measuring device 19 is rotated in the attached state, rice measured by the measuring device 19 provided in the rice storage 12 is poured into the rice washing tank 22a from the top of the rice washing tank 22a. An opening 22c is formed at the lower end of the rice washing tank 22a.

[0021] The water supply and drainage device 16 is a device for supplying and draining water to the rice washing tank 22, and includes a drainage jacket 23 provided at the bottom of the rice washing tank 22 and a drainage box 24 communicating with the drainage jacket 23.

[0022] The drainage jacket 23 is detachably attached to the lower part of the rice washing tank 22, i.e., the lower part of the rice washing tank 22a so as to cover the opening 22c, and receives drainage water from the rice washing tank 22a. That is, the drainage jacket 23 can be removed from the rice washing tank 22a by releasing the hook member 39 attached to the lower part of the rice washing tank 22a from the drainage jacket 23.

[0023] The stirring member 22b is provided in the rice washing tank 22a and is a member that rotates about a vertical axis, and washes the rice in the rice washing tank 22a when rotated.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 4, the drain jacket 23 has an outer peripheral wall 23a formed in a cylindrical shape and a bottom wall 23b protruding radially inward from the lower part of the outer peripheral wall 23a. The bottom wall 23b is provided with a rice discharge port 27 through which rice and the like from the opening 22c of the rice washing tank 22a passes to the rice cooker 14. A conical rice discharge valve 28 is inserted into this rice discharge port 27. This rice discharge valve 28 is provided at the lower end of a vertical shaft 29 that extends vertically so as to be able to rise and fall, and the rice discharge port 27 is opened and closed by the rise and fall of the vertical shaft 29. It is possible to detect by a sensor whether the rice discharge port 27 is in an open state (rice discharge valve open position) or a closed state (rice discharge valve closed position).

[0025] A cylindrical funnel member 31 having a plurality of holes formed in a side wall portion is placed on the bottom wall 23b. A drain port 32 is formed on one side of the outer peripheral wall 23a of the drain jacket 23 to allow the liquid in the drain jacket 23 to flow to the drain box 24 side.

[0026] The drainage box 24 is formed in a box shape, and for example, the front side of the drainage box 24 is a removable lid 37, and the inside of the drainage box 24 can be washed (cleaned) by removing this lid 37. The drainage box 24 is formed with a water inlet 33 on the side opposite the drain outlet 32 ​​of the drainage jacket 23. One end of a pipe (piping) 34 is connected to the water inlet 33, and the other end of the pipe 34 is connected to the drain outlet 32 ​​of the drainage jacket 23, so that the drainage box 24 and the drainage jacket 23 are in communication with each other.

[0027] The drainage box 24 is provided with an opening / closing member 35 for opening and closing a communication passage (for example, inside a pipe 34) leading from the drainage jacket 23 to the drainage box 24. For example, the opening / closing member 35 has an opening / closing section 40 and a link member 36 to which the opening / closing section 40 is attached and which can swing freely. The opening / closing section 40 and the link member 36 are provided inside the drainage box 24, and when an interlocking member 41 attached to the base end side of the link member 36 is lowered downward, the link member 36 swings to move the opening / closing section 40 away from the water inlet 33 to an open state, and when the interlocking member 41 is raised upward, the link member 36 swings to move the opening / closing section 40 close to the water inlet 33 to a closed state.

[0028] Since the link member 36 is biased to the right by a biasing member 42 such as a spring (the interlocking member 41 is biased upward), when the interlocking member 41 is not moved downward, the opening / closing part 40 opens the water inlet 33. A drain outlet 43 is formed in the drain box 24, and a drain hose (not shown) that guides drained water to the outside is detachably connected to the drain outlet 43. An overflow pipe 38 is connected between the top of the drain box 24 and the rice washing tank 22a, and the drainage water overflowing from the rice washing tank 22a flows into the drain box 24 via the overflow pipe 38.

[0029] 3, the water supply and drainage device 16 has a water supply nozzle 25a provided on the upper side of the rice washing tank 22a, a water supply passage (piping) 25b for supplying a water supply source such as a tap to the water supply nozzle 25a, a first opening and closing valve (electromagnetic opening and closing valve) 25c provided on the water supply passage 25b, a flow rate sensor 25d provided on the water supply passage 25b, a second opening and closing valve (faucet) 25e for manually opening and closing the water supply passage 25b, and a strainer (water supply mesh) 25f attached to the water supply nozzle 25a side via the second opening and closing valve 25e. The drainage box 24 and the drainage jacket 23 are also part of the water supply and drainage device 16.

[0030] The rice cooker 14 has a rice cooker 17 for cooking rice, and a heating unit 18 such as a gas stove or an IH heater for heating the rice cooker 17. The rice cooker 17 includes an inner pot 17a with an open top, an outer pot 17b into which the inner pot 17a is inserted from above and stored in a removable manner, and a lid 17c for closing the top opening of the inner pot 17a in an openable and closable manner. The heating unit 18 is disposed below the inner pot 17a and can cook rice by heating the inner pot 17a. The top surface of the lid 17c is open, and a swingable shutter 17d is provided on the top of the lid 17c. The opening of the lid 17c can be closed or opened by the shutter 17d.

[0031] As shown in Fig. 5, the rice processing machine 1 is equipped with a display device 50. The display device 50 has a display section 50A and an operation section 51B. The display section 50A is a section that displays various information and is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal panel. The operation section 51B is a section that performs various operations and is composed of switches, etc. The operation section 51B includes a setting switch 51, a start switch 52, a reservation switch 54, a cancel switch 55, an up switch 56, a down switch 57, a left switch 58, and a right switch 59.

[0032] As shown in Fig. 6A, the display unit 50A displays an initial screen M1 indicating the state of rice cooking when starting up the rice processing machine 1. Also, as shown in Fig. 6B, the display unit 50A displays a menu set screen M2 when the setting switch 51 is operated.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 6A, the initial screen M1 displays various processes. For example, the initial screen M1 displays a measuring process S1 in which rice is being measured using a measuring device 19, a rice washing process S2 in which rice is being washed in the rice washing device 13, a colander lifting process S3 in which the rice is lifted into a colander after being washed in the rice washing device 13, a water adjustment process S4 in which a predetermined amount of water is calculated and water with or without added water is supplied to the rice washing device 13, a rice discharge process S5 in which the rice and water with or without added water in the rice washing device 13 are put into the rice cooker 14, a soaking process S6 in which rice is soaked in the rice cooker 14, a rice cooking process S7 in which rice is cooked in the rice cooker 14, a steaming process S8 in which rice is steamed in the rice cooker 14, and a cooked process S9 in which the rice is cooked. On the initial screen M1, the current process can be visually identified by inverting the letters indicating each process (weighing process S1, rice washing process S2, draining process S3, water addition process S4, rice removal process S5, soaking process S6, rice cooking process S7, steaming process S8, cooking process S9) from the letters indicating other processes, or by changing the color of the letters indicating the process from the other letters, or by making the letters or figures indicating each process different from the other processes.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 6B, the menu setting screen M2 is a screen for setting each process (measuring process S1, rice washing process S2, draining process S3, water addition process S4, soaking process S6, rice cooking process S7, and steaming process S8).

[0035] The menu set screen M2 displays a plurality of setting items 61. The plurality of setting items 61 include a rice cooking item 61a indicating the setting of the amount of rice to be cooked, a water addition / reduction item 61b indicating the setting of the amount of water to be added / reduced, a washing method item 61c indicating the setting of the method of washing the rice, a mode item 61d indicating the setting of the cooking method (rice cooking method) and the number of times to cook rice, a soaking item 60e indicating the setting of the soaking time, and a soaking item 61f indicating the setting of the soaking time.

[0036] The menu set screen M2 also displays setting information corresponding to a plurality of setting items 61. The plurality of setting information includes a cooking amount 62a corresponding to the rice cooking item 61a, a water amount 62b corresponding to the water addition item 61b, a washing degree 62c corresponding to the washing method item 61c, a cooking method (white rice, vinegared rice) corresponding to the mode item 61d, and a setting value 62d indicating the number of times to cook rice (once, twice), a soaking time 62e corresponding to the soaking item 60e, and a soaking time 62f corresponding to the soaking item 61f.

[0037] A cursor 63 and the like are displayed on the menu set screen M2, and various settings can be made by moving the position of the cursor 63 using any of the up switch 56, down switch 57, left switch 58, and right switch 59. For ease of explanation, the up switch 56, down switch 57, left switch 58, and right switch 59 may sometimes be simply referred to as change switches.

[0038] For example, by moving the cursor 63 to the rice cooking item 61a and then operating the change switch, the amount of cooked rice can be increased or decreased. By moving the cursor 63 to the water addition item 61b and then operating the change switch, the amount of water to be added or reduced 62b can be increased or decreased. In the water addition item 61b in FIG. 6B, a value corresponding to the amount of water to be added or reduced 62b is displayed by a level gauge 64, and "low" is displayed to indicate that one side is less than the reference value Q1 displayed in the center of the level gauge 64, and "high" is displayed to indicate that the amount of water to be added or reduced is more than the predetermined reference value Q1 on the other side. The amount of water to be added or reduced 62b can be set depending on the position of the cursor 63 pointed to the level gauge 64. For example, by positioning the cursor 63 on the high side of the level gauge 64, the amount of water to be added or reduced can be increased from the reference value Q1 in eight steps (H1 to H8), and by positioning the cursor 63 on the low side of the level gauge 64, the amount of water to be added or reduced can be decreased in eight steps (L1 to L8). In the above embodiment, the amount of water added / decreased 62b is increased / decreased in stages, but the amount of water added / decreased 62b may be input as a numerical value, similar to the amount of rice to be cooked 62a.

[0039] By moving the cursor 63 to the washing method item 61c and then operating the change switch, the washing method (whether to wash thoroughly or lightly) can be set. By moving the cursor 63 to the mode item 61d and then operating the change switch, the cooking method (white rice, vinegared rice) and the number of times to cook the rice (once, twice) can be changed. By moving the cursor 63 to the soaking item 60e and then operating the change switch, the soaking time can be increased or decreased.

[0040] As described above, in the display device 50, the setting information (amount of rice to be cooked 62a, amount of water to be added or reduced 62b, degree of washing 62c, cooking method (white rice, vinegared rice) and number of times to cook rice (once, twice), soaking time 62e, steaming time 62f) can be set by the respective staff members (manager, employee, part-time worker) of the store (stores A, B, C) operating the display device.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 2, the rice processing machine 1 includes a control device 70. The control device 70 is composed of a CPU, an electric and electronic circuit, and a program stored in the CPU. The control device 70 can control the rice processing machine 1 based on the setting information. The control device 70 is connected to a metering drive unit 71a, a rice washing drive unit 71b, a discharge drive unit 71c, a shutter drive unit 71d, and a drain drive unit 71e. The metering drive unit 71a includes, for example, a motor that rotates the cylinder of the metering device 19. The rice washing drive unit 71b includes, for example, a motor that rotates the stirring member 22b. The discharge drive unit 71c includes a conversion mechanism that converts rotation into vertical movement, and a motor that transmits rotational power to the conversion mechanism to raise and lower the up-down shaft 29. The shutter drive unit 71d includes a motor that swings the shutter 17d. The drainage drive unit 71e includes a conversion mechanism that converts rotation into vertical movement, and a motor that transmits rotational power to the conversion mechanism to raise and lower the interlocking member 41.

[0042] For example, when the setting information is set and the start switch 52 is selected, the control device 70 executes rice processing in the rice processing machine 1. Specifically, the control device 70 performs the measuring step S1 by driving the measuring drive unit 71a to rotate the measuring device 19. The rice measured in the measuring step S1 is put into the rice washing tank 22, and the control device 70 ends the measuring step S1 when the amount of rice measured by the measuring device 19 reaches the cooked rice amount 62a.

[0043] The control device 70 performs the rice washing process S2 by driving the first opening / closing valve (electromagnetic opening / closing valve) 25c, the rice washing drive unit 71b, and the drain drive unit 71e. The control device 70 outputs a control signal to the first opening / closing valve 25c to open the first opening / closing valve 25c, and drives the rice washing drive unit 71b to rotate the stirring member 22b, thereby washing the rice. When the rice washing is completed, the control device 70 drives the drain drive unit 71e to drain the water in the rice washing tank 22a, thereby completing the rice washing process S2.

[0044] The control device 70 outputs a control signal to the first on-off valve 25c at predetermined time intervals to repeatedly open and close the first on-off valve 25c, thereby performing the colander lifting step S3. The control device 70 performs the water addition step S4 by, for example, opening the first on-off valve 25c to supply the water addition / reduction amount 62b into the rice washing tank 22a. When the amount of water addition / reduction water supplied to the rice washing tank 22a (the amount of water detected by the flow rate sensor 25d) reaches the set water addition / reduction amount 62b, the water addition / reduction step S4 ends.

[0045] The control device 70 drives the discharge drive unit 71c and the shutter drive unit 71d to perform the rice discharge step S5. The control device 70 drives the discharge drive unit 71c to raise the vertical shaft 29 to open the rice discharge valve 28, and drives the shutter drive unit 71d to open the shutter 17d, thereby feeding the rice and water-added water in the rice washing tank 22a into the rice cooker 14. The control device 70 ends the rice discharge step S5 when the rice and water-added water in the rice washing tank 22a to the rice cooker 14 is completed.

[0046] After the rice has been put into the rice cooker 14, the control device 70 performs a soaking step S6 in which the rice is soaked until the soaking time 62e has elapsed. That is, in the soaking step S6, the control device 70 does not perform heating by the heating unit 18 until the soaking time 62e has elapsed after putting the rice and the water into the rice cooker 14. After the soaking time 62e has elapsed, the control device 70 outputs a control signal to the heating unit 18 to perform heating, that is, executes the rice cooking step S7. When the rice is cooked in the rice cooking step S7, the control device 70 stops heating and performs a soaking step S8 in which the rice is kept in the rice cooker 14 until the soaking time 62f has elapsed, and when the soaking time 62f has elapsed, performs a cooking step S9 by outputting a signal to an alarm device such as a buzzer to notify by voice or sound that cooking has been completed.

[0047] As described above, in any of the stores (Store A, Store B, Store C), rice can be measured, washed, and cooked based on the setting information set by the staff.

[0048] The operation of the rice processing machine 1, such as the control device 70, in each of the above-mentioned processes (weighing process S1, rice washing process S2, draining process S3, water addition process S4, rice removal process S5, soaking process S6, rice cooking process S7, steaming process S8, and cooking process S9) is merely an example and is not limiting.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 70 may include a reservation reception unit 70A. The reservation reception unit 70A receives reservations for processing time and rice processing amount. For example, when a predetermined operation is performed on the rice processing machine 1, the reservation reception unit 70A displays a reservation screen M3 as shown in FIG. 6C. The reservation reception unit 70A displays a reservation input unit 95 on the reservation screen M3 for inputting, for example, the time when the rice will be cooked (the time when the cooking process S9 will end). In the reservation input unit 95, it is possible to input the reservation date for processing rice tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, and three days from now, based on the day (today) on which the reservation screen M3 is displayed, and the time when the cooking process S9 will end (processing end time). For example, if the date on which the reservation screen M3 was displayed (today) was May 24, 2019, and the day after tomorrow and 9:30 were entered in the reservation input unit 95, the reservation reception unit 70A would set May 26, 2019 as the reservation date and 9:30 as the processing end time, and if the amount of cooked rice entered was 6.0 kg, the input 6.0 kg would be set as the amount of rice processed (amount of cooked rice). In other words, in any of the rice processing machines 1 at store A, store B, and store C, reservations can be made on the store side by displaying the reservation screen M3. Naturally, when a reservation is accepted at the reservation reception unit 70A, the control device 70 controls the rice processing machine 1 so that the cooking process S9 ends at the processing end time of the reserved date.

[0050] As shown in Fig. 2, the rice processing machine 1 is equipped with a storage device 73. The storage device 73 is composed of non-volatile memory, etc., and stores various information (data). The storage device 73 is capable of storing identification information and rice processing results. The identification information is information for identifying the rice processing machine 1, and is information assigned by unique alphanumeric characters or other characters assigned to the rice processing machine 1. Note that, as shown in Fig. 7A, the identification information may be a name associated with the store name so that it is easy for managers, etc. to see.

[0051] The rice processing results are information showing the results of actual rice processing by the rice processing machine 1, and are, for example, information stored after rice cooking is completed. The storage device 73 stores the processing time of the rice, for example, the time when the measuring step S1 started (processing start time), the time when the cooking step S9 is completed (processing end time), and the amount of rice measured by the measuring device 19, i.e., the cooked rice amount 62a, as the rice processing results. The rice processing results described above are only examples and are not limited to the above. For example, the cooked rice amount 62a, the amount of water added or removed 62b (white rice, vinegared rice), the number of times rice is cooked (once, twice), the soaking time 62e, the steaming time 62f, etc. may be used as the rice processing results. In addition, the time (hours) of each process (weighing process S1, rice washing process S2, draining process S3, water addition process S4, rice removal process S5, soaking process S6, rice cooking process S7, steaming process S8, and cooking process S9) may be used as the rice processing results.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 2, the rice processing machine 1 has a communication device (first communication device) 72. The first communication device 72 is, for example, a device that can be connected to the support device 2 via a third communication device 3 installed in a store (Store A, Store B, Store C). For example, the first communication device 72 is, for example, a communication standard of the IEEE802.11 series, such as Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity, registered trademark), BLE (Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy), LPWA (Low Power, Wide Area), or LPWAN (Low-Power Wide-Area Network). The first communication device 72 may be a device that is connected to the third communication device 3 by a wire. In addition, when a plurality of rice processing machines 1 are installed in a store (Store A, Store B, Store C), a LAN (Local Area Network) may be constructed by the first communication device 72 installed in each of the plurality of rice processing machines 1 and the third communication device 3. The first communication device 72 may be a communication device that is directly connected to the support device 2 via a mobile phone communication network or a data communication network.

[0053] 1 and 2, the support device 2 is installed in a headquarters (area headquarters such as a head office) that manages multiple stores (Store A, Store B, Store C). The support device 2 supports the rice processing machines 1 in the multiple stores (Store A, Store B, Store C).

[0054] As shown in FIG. 2, the support device 2 includes a control device 80, a display device (second display device) 81, a storage device 82, and a second communication device 83. The control device 80 is composed of a CPU, an electric and electronic circuit, and a program stored in the CPU. The control device 80 performs various processes of the support device 2. The display device (second control device) 81 is composed of a liquid crystal panel, a monitor, etc., and displays various information. The storage device 82 is composed of a non-volatile memory, etc., and stores various information. The second communication device 83 is a communication device connected to a network, has a configuration similar to the above-mentioned third communication device 3 or the first communication device 72, and can obtain various information of multiple stores. The second communication device 83 may be a device that performs indirect communication by connecting to the first communication device 72 of the rice processing machine 1 via the third communication device 3, or a device that performs direct communication by connecting directly to the first communication device 72 of the rice processing machine 1 without going through the third communication device 3.

[0055] The control device 80 includes a result acquisition unit 80A, a period reception unit 80B, and a period result calculation unit 80C. The result acquisition unit 80A acquires rice processing results processed by the rice processing machine 1 from the rice processing machine 1 via the second communication device 83 and the third communication device 3. As shown in FIG. 2, for example, the result acquisition unit 80A connects to the third communication device 3 of the stores (Store A, Store B, Store C) (G1), and requests rice processing results from the first communication device 72 of the rice processing machine 1 of each store via the third communication device 3 (G2). In response to the request from the result acquisition unit 80A, the first communication device 72 of the rice processing machine 1 of each store transmits the rice processing results to the support device 2 via the third communication device 3 (G3).

[0056] For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, the result acquisition unit 80A can request rice processing results from May 20, 2019 to May 26, 2019 from three rice processing machines 1 in store A (Store A1, Store A2, Store A3), two rice processing machines 1 in store B (Store B1, Store B2), and one rice processing machine 1 in store C (Store B1), and acquire rice processing results including processing time (processing start time, processing end time) and rice processing amount (cooked rice amount) from each of the rice processing machines 1 in stores A, B, and C. The rice processing results acquired by the result acquisition unit 80A can be stored in the storage device 82.

[0057] In the above-described embodiment, the result acquisition unit 80A requests rice processing results via the third communication device 3 of the store (Store A, Store B, Store C). However, each of the rice processing machines 1 in the stores (Store A, Store B, Store C) may automatically transmit their rice processing results for one business day to the support device 2 via the third communication device 3 at a predetermined time, for example, a predetermined time after the store (Store A, Store B, Store C) closes, and the result acquisition unit 80A may acquire the rice processing results for one business day transmitted by each of the rice processing machines 1 and store the rice processing results for one business day in the memory device 82 for each business day.

[0058] As shown in Figures 8A and 8B, when a predetermined operation is performed, the second display device 81 displays a performance display screen M4. The performance display screen M4 includes a store display section 89, a period input section 90, and an individual performance display section 91. The store display section 89 is an area that displays the name of the store and the rice processing performance of the entire store (store processing performance).

[0059] The period input section 90 is a section for inputting a predetermined period (performance period) such as month, day, time, etc. The individual performance display section 91 includes an identification display section 91a that displays identification information such as the name of the rice processing machine 1, a time display section 91b that displays the time, and a processing display section 91c that displays the processing time and rice processing amount of the rice processing machine 1 corresponding to the identification information. The second display device 81 displays the identification display section 91a for each store. In the processing display section 91c, the second display device 81 displays a bar indicating the processing time and the actual rice processing amount (kg) at the position of the processing time (processing start time, processing end time) corresponding to the time display section 91b.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 8A, when an actual period such as month and day, for example, May 26, 2019, is input into the period input unit 90, the period receiving unit 80B acquires May 26, 2019 input into the period input unit 90 as the actual period.

[0061] The period result calculation unit 80C calculates the rice processing result acquired by the result acquisition unit 80A and the actual rice processing amount in the result period acquired by the period acceptance unit 80B. As shown in FIG. 7A, for example, in a situation where the result acquisition unit 80A acquires rice processing results from May 20, 2019 to May 26, 2019, and the period acceptance unit 80B acquires May 26, 2019 as the result period, the period result calculation unit 80C refers to the storage device 82, and extracts the rice processing result for May 26, 2019 acquired by the period acceptance unit 80B from the rice processing results from May 20, 2019 to May 26, 2019, as shown in FIG. 7B. Then, as shown in Figure 7B, the period result calculation unit 80C calculates the amount of rice cooked by the multiple rice processing machines 1 installed in the stores (Store A, Store B, Store C) on May 26, 2019, which is the performance period, as the performance rice processing amount, from the rice processing results of the stores (Store A, Store B, Store C). In detail, the period result calculation unit 80C calculates the total amount of cooked rice cooked by each of Store A1 Machine, Store A2 Machine, Store A3 Machine, Store B1 Machine, Store B2 Machine, and Store C1 Machine on May 26, 2019, as the rice processing amount.

[0062] When period result calculation unit 80C calculates the actual rice processing amount (rice processing amount) of rice cooked on May 26, 2019, which is the actual period, second display device 81 displays the actual rice processing amount (rice processing amount) and processing time (processing start time, processing end time) of each of the rice processing machines 1 (Store A1, Store A2, Store A3, Store B1, Store B2, Store C1) of the stores (Store A, Store B, Store C) on individual result display unit 91, as shown in result display screen M4 in Figure 8A. That is, second display device 81 displays the rice processing result (actual rice processing amount, processing start time, processing end time) of each rice processing machine 1.

[0063] In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the period receiving unit 80B acquired May 26, 2019, which is one business day, as the performance period. However, as shown in FIG. 8B, if the period input unit 90 inputs 14:00 to 23:00 on May 26, 2019 as the performance period and the period receiving unit 80B acquires 14:00 to 23:00 on May 26, 2019 as the performance period, as shown in FIG. 7C, the period performance calculation unit 80C calculates the total sum of the cooked rice amounts of each of the rice processing machines 1 (Store A1, Store A2, Store A3, Store B1, Store B2, Store C1) in a predetermined section from 14:00 to 23:00 on May 26, 2019 as the rice processing amount. Then, as shown in FIG. 8B, the second display device 81 displays the rice processing results (actual rice processing amount, processing start time, processing end time) of the rice cooked from 14:00 to 23:00 on May 26, 2019.

[0064] As shown in Figures 8A and 8B, the period performance calculation unit 80C may add up the actual rice processing volume (rice processing volume) processed during a performance period by multiple rice processing machines 1 installed in the store, and display the store processing results (rice processing results for an entire store) on the store display unit 89.

[0065] 1, the control device 80 may include a rice processing planning unit 80D. The rice processing planning unit 80D creates a rice processing plan for processing in the rice processing machine 1.

[0066] As shown in Fig. 9A, when a predetermined operation is performed, the second display device 81 displays a plan screen M5. The plan screen M5 includes a store display section 101, a period input section 102, and an individual plan input section 103. The store display section 101 is a section for displaying the name of the store and the rice processing plan for the entire store. The period input section 102 is a section for inputting a predetermined period (plan period) such as month, day, time, etc.

[0067] The individual plan input unit 103 includes an identification display unit 103a that displays identification information such as the name of the rice processing machine 1, a time display unit 103b that displays time, and a processing display unit 103c that inputs the processing time and rice processing amount of the rice processing machine 1 corresponding to the identification information. For example, when a part corresponding to the store A1 is selected in the individual plan input unit 103, the rice processing planning unit 80D displays an input screen M6 for inputting a start time, an end time, and a planned rice processing amount (rice processing amount) as shown in FIG. 9B. After the start time, end time, and planned rice processing amount (rice processing amount) are input in the input screen M6, when the register button 104 of the input screen M6 is selected, the rice processing planning unit 80D sets the start time, end time, and planned rice processing amount (rice processing amount) input in the input screen M6 as the rice processing plan for the store A1. The rice processing planning unit 80D stores the rice processing plan for each rice processing machine 1 in the storage device 82. Furthermore, the rice processing planning unit 80D displays the start time, end time, and planned rice processing volume (rice processing volume) in the individual plan input unit 103. As described above, the rice processing planning unit 80D sets the start time, end time, and planned rice processing volume (rice processing volume) not only for Store A1, but also for the other Stores A2, A3, B1, B2, and C1 individually, in the same way as for Store A1.

[0068] In addition, the rice processing planning unit 80D may add up the planned rice processing volume (rice processing volume) for the planning period for multiple rice processing machines 1 installed in the store, and display the total rice processing volume for the entire store on the store display unit 101.

[0069] The second communication device 83 of the support device 2 transmits the rice processing plan to the third communication device 3 of the store (Store A, Store B, Store C). The management computer (personal computer) 4 installed in the store (Store A, Store B, Store C) displays the rice processing plan for each rice processing machine 1 similar to the plan screen M5.

[0070] In the above-described embodiment, as shown in Figures 8A and 8B, rice processing results (actual rice processing volume, processing start time, processing end time) for each rice processing machine 1 are displayed on the result display screen M4, but rice processing plans (start time, end time, and planned rice processing volume) may also be displayed side by side as shown in Figure 10. That is, as shown in Figure 10, the second display device 81 combines the store display section 89 and the store display section 101, combines the period input section 90 and the period input section 102, and combines the individual result display section 91 and the individual plan input section 103, so that the rice processing plans can also be displayed side by side on the result display screen M4.

[0071] The control device 80 may include a yield calculation unit 80E. The yield calculation unit 80E calculates the rice yield based on the actual rice processing amount in a predetermined period (actual period) and the rice consumption amount in the actual period. The management computer 4 of the stores (Store A, Store B, Store C) transmits the rice consumption amount (store consumption amount) consumed in the store to the second communication device 83 of the support device 2 via the communication device 3. As shown in FIG. 11, the yield calculation unit 80E calculates the rice yield for each store by dividing the actual rice processing amount (store processing result) of the store from the store consumption amount. The store consumption amount may be a value obtained from a POS system or a value obtained by weighing the amount of rice wasted and inputting it into the management computer 4, and the method of calculating the rice consumption amount is not limited. The second display device 81 displays the yield for each store as shown in FIG. 11.

[0072] In the above-mentioned embodiment, the rice processing machine 1 is a device that performs weighing, washing, and cooking, but it may also be a device that performs washing. For example, the rice processing machine 1 may be a rice processing machine that does not have at least the rice cooker 14 among the rice storage 12, the rice washing device 13, the water supply and drainage device 16, and the rice cooker 14, or may be a rice processing machine that does not have the rice storage 12 and the rice cooker 14. In other words, it is applicable to a rice processing machine that has at least the rice washing device 13. In this way, in the case of the rice processing machine 1 that has the rice washing device 13, the time when the rice washing starts is the processing start time, the time when the rice washing ends is the processing end time, the amount of rice that has been washed (the amount of washed rice) is the amount of rice processed, and the rice processing performance includes the amount of washed rice, the processing start time when the rice washing started, and the processing end time when the rice washing ended. In other words, if the amount of cooked rice in the above-mentioned embodiment is read as the amount of washed rice, this is an embodiment of the rice processing machine 1 that has the rice washing device 13.

[0073] The rice processing support system includes a rice processing machine 1 that processes rice, a result acquisition unit 80A that acquires rice processing results including the processing time and rice processing amount of the rice processing machine 1 from the rice processing machine 1, a period reception unit 80B that accepts a predetermined period (performance period), a period performance calculation unit 80C that calculates the performance rice processing amount in the predetermined period based on the processing time of the rice processing results acquired by the performance acquisition unit 80A, and a display device 50 that displays the performance rice processing amount in the predetermined period (performance period). This makes it easy to grasp the performance rice processing amount of the rice processing machine 1 in the predetermined period (performance period) accepted by the period reception unit 80B. For example, it is possible to grasp the performance processing amount processed by the rice processing machine 1 not only for a performance period of one day but also for any time period of one day, and to grasp the performance processing amount processed by the rice processing machine 1 in any performance period. It is possible to analyze in a chronological order on a rice processing machine 1 basis when the performance processing amount was high or low.

[0074] The rice processing machine 1 includes a rice washing device 13 that washes rice, the rice processing machine 1 outputs the amount of washed rice washed by the rice washing device 13 as the amount of rice processed, the period performance calculation unit 80C calculates the amount of washed rice in a specified period (performance period) as the actual amount of rice processed, and the display device 50 displays the amount of washed rice in the specified period (performance period). This makes it possible to know the amount of washed rice processed by the rice processing machine 1 in any performance period.

[0075] The rice processing machine 1 includes a rice cooker 14 that cooks rice, the rice processing machine 1 outputs the amount of rice cooked by the rice cooker 14 as the amount of rice processed, the period performance calculation unit 80C calculates the amount of cooked rice in a predetermined period (performance period) as the actual rice processing amount, and the display device 50 displays the amount of cooked rice in the predetermined period (performance period). This makes it possible to know the amount of cooked rice processed by the rice processing machine 1 in any performance period.

[0076] The result acquisition unit 80A acquires the rice processing results of the multiple rice processing machines 1 arranged at the serving location where cooked rice is provided, the period result calculation unit 80C calculates the actual rice processing amount for a predetermined period (actual period) at the serving location based on the rice processing amount of the multiple rice processing machines 1 and the predetermined period (actual period), and the display device 50 displays the actual rice processing amount for the predetermined period (actual period) at the serving location. This makes it possible to grasp the actual rice processing amount processed by each of the multiple rice processing machines 1 within the actual period at the serving location H1 that provides cooked rice, such as a restaurant, a corporate cafeteria, or a school lunch center. It is possible to analyze in chronological order for each serving location when the actual processing amount was high or low for the multiple rice processing machines 1 arranged at the serving location.

[0077] The rice processing support system includes a support device 2 having a rice processing planning unit 80D that creates a rice processing plan for processing by the rice processing machine 1, and a display device 50 displays the rice processing plan created by the rice processing planning unit 80D. This makes it possible to compare the rice processing plan created by the rice processing planning unit 80D with the actual rice processing volume, and to grasp whether the rice processing was as planned.

[0078] The rice processing machine 1 is equipped with a reservation reception unit 70A that receives reservations for processing time and rice processing volume. This allows the processing time (processing start time, processing end time) and rice processing volume to be easily reserved in advance in the rice processing machine 1, making it possible to improve the efficiency of rice processing work.

[0079] The rice processing support system is equipped with a yield calculation unit 80E that calculates rice yield based on the actual rice processing volume in a specified period (actual period) and the rice consumption volume in the specified period (actual period). This makes it easy to grasp the rice yield, which indicates the ratio of rice consumption volume to the actual rice processing volume, and makes it possible to understand whether the rice processing performed by the rice processing machine 1 was appropriate.

[0080] The control device 80 is equipped with a rice cooking setting creation unit 80F that creates settings for rice cooking. When a predetermined operation is performed on the second display device 81, the rice cooking setting creation unit 80F displays a setting screen M7 on the second display device 81, as shown in Fig. 12. The setting screen M7 is a screen for setting rice cooking, and includes a store input unit 110 for inputting the store name, etc., a date input unit 112, a rice cooking amount input unit 113 for inputting the rice cooking amount 62a, a water addition / reduction water input unit 114 for inputting the water addition / reduction amount 62b, a soaking time input unit 115 for inputting the soaking time 62e, and a soaking time input unit 116 for inputting the soaking time 62f.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 13A, when the rice cooking setting creation unit 80F completes input of the necessary information into the store input unit 110, date input unit 112, cooked rice amount input unit 113, water addition / reduction input unit 114, soaking time input unit 115 and steaming time input unit 116, it creates the store name, date, cooked rice amount 62a, water addition / reduction amount 62b, soaking time 62e and steaming time 62f as second rice cooking setting values.

[0082] When the support device 2 creates the second rice cooking setting value using the rice cooking setting creation unit 80F, it transmits the second rice cooking setting value to the first communication device 72 of the rice processing machine 1 in the store (Store A, Store B, Store C) via the second communication device 83 and the third communication device 3. The rice processing machine 1 in the store (Store A, Store B, Store C) receives the second rice cooking setting value transmitted from the support device 2.

[0083] When the rice processing machine 1 receives the second rice cooking setting value, the display device (first control device) 50 of the rice processing machine 1 displays at least a notification screen M8 indicating that the second rice cooking setting value has been received. For example, as shown in FIG. 14A, the first display device 50 of each of the store A1, store A2, and store A3 machines of store A indicates that the second rice cooking setting value has been received by displaying "Do you want to apply the new rice cooking setting?" on the notification screen M8 when the date included in the second rice cooking setting value (2019 / 5 / 29) arrives. Similarly, the first display device 50 of each of the store B1, store B2, and store C1 machines of store C indicates that the second rice cooking setting value has been received by displaying "Do you want to apply the new rice cooking setting?" on the notification screen M8 when the date included in the second rice cooking setting value (2019 / 5 / 27) arrives.

[0084] The first display device 50 of the rice processing machine 1 has a selection section 120. The selection section 120 is a section for selecting either the first rice cooking setting value or the second rice cooking setting value, and includes, for example, a first button 120A indicating "Yes" and a second button 120B indicating "No". When the first button 120A is selected by operating the change switch, the second rice cooking setting value is selected, and when the second button 120B is selected and confirmed, the first rice cooking setting value is selected. As described above, the first rice cooking setting value is the water addition / reduction amount 62b, the soaking time 62e, and the steaming time 62f among the setting information set on the menu set screen M2 of the rice processing machine 1. In other words, when the first rice cooking setting value is selected, rice is cooked with the first rice cooking setting value set by the store, not the second rice cooking setting value set by the rice cooking setting creation section 80F of the support device 2.

[0085] When the first cooking setting value is selected in the selection section 120 (first button 120A, second button 120B), the control device 70 of the rice processing machine 1 cooks rice through a water addition / adjustment step S4, a rice removal step S5, a soaking step S6, a rice cooking step S7, a steaming step S8, and a cooking completion step S9 in accordance with the first cooking setting value, and when the second cooking setting value is selected, the control device 70 cooks rice through a water addition / adjustment step S4, a rice removal step S5, a soaking step S6, a rice cooking step S7, a steaming step S8, and a cooking completion step S9 in accordance with the second cooking setting value.

[0086] In the above-described embodiment, a selection unit 120 (first button 120A, second button 120B) was provided to cook rice using either the first or second cooking setting value, but when the second cooking setting value is received, the control device 70 may automatically change the first cooking setting value set in the rice processing machine 1 to the second cooking setting value, and cook rice using the changed second cooking setting value.

[0087] When the rice processing machine 1 cooks rice with the second rice cooking setting value, that is, when the second rice cooking setting value is selected in the selection unit 120 or when rice is cooked automatically with the second rice cooking setting value, the first display device 50 of the rice processing machine 1 can display the second rice cooking setting value (cooked rice amount 62a, water addition / reduction amount 62b, soaking time 62e, steaming time 62f) on the menu set screen M2. This makes it possible for the store (rice processing machine 1) to check the second rice cooking setting value transmitted from the support device 2.

[0088] The control device 70 may include a setting correction unit 70B that corrects the second rice cooking setting values. In this case, when the second rice cooking setting values ​​(cooked rice amount 62a, water addition / reduction amount 62b, soaking time 62e, steaming time 62f) are displayed on the menu setting screen M2, the setting correction unit 70B can change the second rice cooking setting values ​​displayed on the menu setting screen M2 by operating a change switch.

[0089] As shown in FIG. 12, the setting screen M7 may be provided with a restriction input section 117. The restriction input section 117 is a section for setting whether or not to permit changes to the set values ​​for the rice cooking amount input section 113, the water addition / reduction input section 114, the soaking time input section 115, and the time input section 116 (a section for inputting "unchangeable" or "changeable"). The setting correction section 70B allows the setting values ​​to be changed by the control device 70 (setting correction section 70B) only for items for which the setting value is permitted to be changed in the restriction input section 117, that is, items for which the setting value is changeable, and restricts the setting value from being changed in the rice processing machine 1 for items for which the setting is not permitted to be changed, that is, items for which the setting is not changeable (restricts changes to the second rice cooking setting value). In the example shown in FIG. 12, only items that have been changed in the restriction input section 117 can be changed.

[0090] In the above embodiment, the store name, date, rice cooking amount 62a, water addition / reduction amount 62b, soaking time 62e, and steaming time 62f are described as the second rice cooking setting values, but the second rice cooking setting values ​​may be, for example, only the rice cooking amount 62a in addition to the store name and date, or only the water addition / reduction amount 62b. Alternatively, the second rice cooking setting values ​​may be the rice cooking amount 62a and water addition / reduction amount 62b in addition to the store name and date.

[0091] The support device 2 acquires serving location information including whether the rice processing machine 1 cooks rice using the second rice cooking setting value. Specifically, the support device 2 creates the second rice cooking setting value using the rice cooking setting creation unit 80F, transmits the created second rice cooking setting value to the stores (Store A, Store B, Store C), and then requests serving location information including current setting information from the rice processing machines 1 of at least the stores (Store A, Store B, Store C). In response to the request from the support device 2, the rice processing machine 1 transmits the current setting information to the support device 2 as serving location information.

[0092] As shown in FIG. 13B, when the rice processing machine 1 of store B and store C (Store B1, Store B2, Store C1) has a setting value related to rice cooking (rice cooking setting value) that is the same as the second rice cooking setting value among the received current setting information, the support device 2 can determine that the rice processing machine 1 is cooking rice using the second rice cooking setting value. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 13B, when the rice processing machine 1 of store A (Store A1, Store A2, Store A3) has a rice cooking setting value that is different from the second rice cooking setting value among the received current setting information, the support device 2 can determine that the rice processing machine 1 is not cooking rice using the second rice cooking setting value. When the support device 2 determines that rice cooking is not being performed using the second rice cooking setting value, it displays identification information of the store or rice processing machine 1 that is not cooking rice using the second rice cooking setting value on the second display device 81. Alternatively, the second display device 81 displays the second rice cooking setting information of FIG. 13A and the rice cooking setting values ​​(current rice cooking setting values) of FIG. 13B.

[0093] When the support device 2 transmits the second rice cooking setting value to the rice processing machine 1 of the store (Store A, Store B, Store C), the support device 2 may also indicate the reason for transmitting the second rice cooking setting value. For example, the support device 2 transmits a reason, such as "The rice has been changed to new rice," together with the second rice cooking setting value to the rice processing machine 1 of the store (Store A, Store B, Store C). As shown in FIG. 14B, the first display device 50 of the store (Store A, Store B, Store C) displays "The rice has been changed to new rice. Would you like to apply the new rice cooking setting?" on the notification screen M8, including the reason for receiving the second rice cooking setting value.

[0094] The rice processing machine 1 includes a rice cooker 14 for cooking rice, a display device 50 for inputting a first rice cooking setting value, which is a setting for rice cooking, and a communication device (first communication device) 72 capable of receiving a second rice cooking setting value, which is a setting for rice cooking, from an external device (support device) 2. When the communication device (first communication device) 72 receives the second rice cooking setting value from the external device (support device) 2, the display device (first display device) 50 displays that at least the second rice cooking setting value has been received. This allows an operator or the like who operates the rice processing machine 1 to grasp the second rice cooking setting value, which is a setting for rice cooking, transmitted via the communication device (first communication device) 72 from the external device (support device) 2 installed at a general management location (head office, etc.) H2 other than the provision location H1 that provides cooked rice, such as a restaurant, a company cafeteria, or a school lunch center. In other words, it is easy to give instructions for the rice cooking setting to the rice processing machine 1 installed at the provision location H1 from outside.

[0095] The rice processing machine 1 includes a control device 70 that controls rice cooking, and the control device 70 controls the rice cooker 14 based on the second rice cooking setting value received by a communication device (first communication device) 72. This allows rice to be cooked easily by receiving an external instruction for the rice cooking setting (second rice cooking setting value).

[0096] The display device (first display device) 50 has a selection unit 120 that selects either a first rice cooking setting value or a second rice cooking setting value, and the control device 70 controls rice cooking based on either the first rice cooking setting value or the second rice cooking setting value selected by the selection unit 120. With this, even if an instruction to change the rice cooking setting (second rice cooking setting value) is given from outside, a staff member (manager, employee, part-time worker) or the like can decide whether or not to cook rice with the first rice cooking setting value set on the display device 50 on the rice processing machine 1 side, and rice can be cooked with either setting.

[0097] The rice processing machine 1 is equipped with a setting correction unit 70B that corrects the second rice cooking setting value received by the communication device (first communication device) 72. This makes it easy to correct, i.e., adjust, the rice cooking setting instruction (second rice cooking setting value) from outside.

[0098] The display device (first display device) 50 can input the amount of water to be added or reduced as the first rice cooking setting value, and the communication device (first communication device) 72 can receive the amount of water to be added or reduced as the second rice cooking setting value. This allows rice to be cooked according to the amount of water to be added or reduced instructed from outside. For example, when the rice processing machine 1 is installed at a service location H1 such as a restaurant, a company cafeteria, or a school lunch center, if the type of rice delivered to the service location H1 changes, such as the brand of rice, new rice, or old rice, the texture of the rice, such as hardness and taste, may change if the amount of water to be added or reduced is the same. In this case, when the type of rice changes, the quality can be kept constant without significantly changing the texture of the rice, such as hardness and taste, by cooking the rice with the amount of water to be added or reduced instructed from outside.

[0099] The display device (first display device) 50 can input the amount of rice cooked as the first rice cooking setting value, and the communication device (first communication device) 72 can receive the amount of rice cooked as the second rice cooking setting value. This allows cooking to be done according to the amount of rice cooked that is instructed from outside. For example, even if staff (manager, employee, part-time worker) do not know how much rice to cook, they can easily work with the amount of rice cooked that is instructed from outside.

[0100] The rice processing support system includes a rice processing machine 1 equipped with a rice cooker 14 for cooking rice, a display device (first display device) 50 for inputting a first rice cooking setting value, which is a setting for rice cooking, and a communication device (first communication device) 72 capable of receiving a second rice cooking setting value, which is a setting for rice cooking, and an external device (support device) 2 for transmitting the second rice cooking setting value to the rice processing machine 1 installed at a providing location where the cooked rice is provided. With this, for example, an operator operating the rice processing machine 1 can grasp the second rice cooking setting value, which is a setting for rice cooking, transmitted via the communication device (first communication device) 72 from the external device (support device) 2 installed at a general management location (head office, etc.) other than the providing location H1 where cooked rice is provided, such as a restaurant, a company cafeteria, or a school lunch center. In other words, it is easy to give instructions for the rice cooking setting to the rice processing machine 1 installed at the providing location H1 from outside.

[0101] The external device (assistance device) 2 acquires the provision location information that enables a judgment as to whether the rice processing machine 1 is cooking rice using the second rice cooking setting value or not. With this, for example, when the setting value (information including the first rice cooking setting value) being processed by the rice processing machine 1 is set as the provision location information, it is possible to easily grasp whether the rice is being cooked according to the instruction (whether the rice is being cooked using the second rice cooking setting value or not).

[0102] The external device (assistance device) 2 has a display device (second display device) 81 that displays the usage status of the second rice cooking setting value for each provision location H1 based on the provision location information. With this, for example, when there are multiple provision locations H1, it is possible to easily determine how much the specified rice cooking setting value (second rice cooking setting value) is being used from the usage status.

[0103] The external device (assistance device) 2 transmits the reason for transmitting the second rice cooking setting value. This allows the location of provision H1 to understand the reason for transmitting the second rice cooking setting value, and based on that reason, it can determine whether to cook rice with the second rice cooking setting value or the first rice cooking setting value.

[0104] As shown in FIG. 15, the first display device 50 of the rice processing machine 1 displays a cleaning instruction screen M9 when a time when cleaning is required (recommended cleaning time) is reached at a predetermined cleaning location. As shown in FIG. 16A, for example, the storage device 82 stores cleaning locations and cleaning judgment criteria (number of operations) corresponding to the cleaning locations. When the actual number of operations in the rice processing machine 1 reaches the reference number of operations, the first display device 50 displays the cleaning instruction screen M9. In the above-mentioned embodiment, the number of operations that require cleaning is stored as the judgment criterion, but it may be other than the number of operations, such as the amount of cooked rice or the amount of washed rice. In addition, the cleaning intervals (cycles), i.e., the judgment criteria associated with the cleaning locations, may be different or the same for the cleaning locations of the rice washing tank 22a, the stirring member 22b, the drain jacket 23, the drain hose, and the strainer (water supply mesh) 25f.

[0105] The cleaning of the rice processing machine 1 will be described in detail below.

[0106] The inside of the rice washing tank (rice washing tank 22a, stirring member 22b) is an area that needs to be cleaned periodically because rice bran and the like adheres to it when rice is washed, and as shown in A1 of the cleaning instruction screen M9, a screen for cleaning the inside of the rice washing tank (rice washing tank 22a, stirring member 22b) is displayed. To clean the rice washing tank 22a and the stirring member 22b, the hook member 21 is released from its engagement to remove the rice washing tank 22a, and the fasteners (bolts, nuts) attaching the stirring member 22b are removed, and the rice washing tank 22a and the stirring member 22b are washed by hand washing or the like.

[0107] In addition, like the inside of the rice washing tank, the inside of the drainage jacket (drainage jacket 23) is an area that needs to be cleaned periodically because rice bran and the like accumulates inside the drainage jacket, and a screen for cleaning the inside of the drainage jacket is displayed as shown at A2 on the cleaning instruction screen M9. To clean the drainage jacket 23, the hook member 39 provided at the bottom of the rice washing tank 22a is released from the drainage jacket 23 to remove it from the rice washing tank 22a, and the inside of the drainage jacket 23 is washed by hand washing or the like.

[0108] Various wastewater flows through the drain hose, and as rice bran and the like accumulates in the hose, it is an area that requires regular cleaning, and as shown in A3 of the cleaning instruction screen M9, a screen for cleaning the drain hose is displayed. To clean the drain hose, the mounting bracket connecting the drain box 24 and the drain hose is removed using a tool, and the drain hose and mounting bracket are washed by hand or the like.

[0109] The strainer (water supply strainer) 25f is an area that requires cleaning because fine dust and the like may adhere to it during water supply, and a screen for cleaning the strainer (water supply strainer) 25f is displayed as shown in A4 of the cleaning instruction screen M9. To clean the strainer (water supply strainer) 25f, the piping and the like connecting the second opening / closing valve 25e and the strainer (water supply strainer) 25f are removed from the second opening / closing valve 25e and the strainer (water supply strainer) 25f, and the strainer (water supply strainer) is washed by hand or the like.

[0110] The control device 70 displays the cleaning instruction screen M9 on the first display device 50 after at least the rice processing such as the cooking process S9 is completed. In addition, the control device 70 sets the cleaning mode at the time when the cleaning instruction screen M9 is displayed, and starts measuring the time (elapsed time) in the cleaning mode. While the control device 70 is in the cleaning mode, the cleaning instruction screen M9 is displayed. When the cancel switch 55 is selected while the cleaning instruction screen M9 is displayed, the first display device 50 returns to a screen such as the initial screen M1 or the menu set screen M2, that is, a screen where rice processing can be performed. In addition, when the cancel switch 55 is selected while the cleaning instruction screen M9 is displayed, the control device 70 cancels the cleaning mode, ends the measurement of the elapsed time, and returns to the control mode where rice processing can be performed.

[0111] As shown in FIG. 17, in more detail, when the first display device 50 displays any one of A1 to A4 of the cleaning instruction screen M9 (S10), the control device 70 is set to the cleaning mode (S11) and starts measuring the time (elapsed time) set in the cleaning mode (S12). When the control device 70 is in the cleaning mode, it determines whether the cancel switch 55 is selected (S13), and if the cancel switch 55 is not selected (S13, No), it continues measuring the elapsed time (S14). On the other hand, if the cancel switch 55 is selected (S13, Yes), the cleaning mode is released and the measurement of the elapsed time ends (S15). The control device 70 determines whether the elapsed time set in the cleaning mode (the elapsed time from when the cleaning mode is set to the time when the cancel switch 55 is selected) is equal to or greater than a threshold (S16), and if the elapsed time is equal to or greater than the threshold (S16, Yes), it determines that the cleaning has been performed (S17: cleaning performed), and determines the elapsed time as the cleaning time during which the cleaning has been performed (S18). If the elapsed time is not equal to or greater than the threshold (S16, No), the control device 70 determines that cleaning has not been performed (S19: cleaning not performed), resets the elapsed time (S20), and returns to the control mode (S21). In the case of cleaning not being performed S19, the control device 70 once cooks rice in the control mode, and then displays the cleaning instruction screen M9 again after completion of rice processing such as the cooking process S9, and repeats the processing from S10 again as described above. The control device 70 stores the latest cleaning time, past cleaning times, and cleaning locations in the storage device 73 as cleaning information.

[0112] In the above embodiment, the control device 70 judges whether the elapsed time set in the cleaning mode (the elapsed time from when the cleaning mode is set to when the cancel switch 55 is selected) is equal to or greater than a threshold value (S16), but the control device 70 may take the elapsed time from when the cleaning mode is set to when the cancel switch 55 is selected as the cleaning time without judging whether the elapsed time is equal to or greater than a threshold value (S16). In this case, the control device 70 does not judge whether cleaning is performed (S17) or not (S19) and stores the cleaning time in the storage device 73. However, as described later, since the shortest cleaning time is very short and is transmitted to the support device 2 as the shortest cleaning time, the support device 2 can know that rice processing is being performed without cleaning.

[0113] 16B is a diagram summarizing the cleaning information. The cleaning information includes the cleaning timing in addition to the cleaning time, and if cleaning is being performed (if it is determined that cleaning is being performed), it decreases each time an operation is performed (cleaning timing = judgment criterion (number of operations) - number of operations since cleaning execution S17), and if cleaning is not being performed (if it is determined that cleaning has not been performed), it increases each time one day passes (cleaning timing = number of days since the day when cleaning was not performed).

[0114] As shown in Fig. 16B, when cleaning is performed (cleaning execution S17) under the circumstances where the cleaning instruction screen M9 is displayed, the cleaning timing will be the same number as the judgment criterion (number of operations). On the other hand, if the cleaning timing is less than zero, that is, cleaning is necessary (the cleaning instruction screen M9 is displayed but the cancel switch 55 is frequently selected and cleaning not performed S19 is repeated, the control device 70 will enter the number of days that have passed since cleaning was necessary. The first communication device 72 of the rice processing machine 1 transmits cleaning information as shown in Fig. 16B, i.e., the cleaning status, to the second communication device 83 of the support device 2.

[0115] When the second communication device 83 of the support device 2 receives the cleaning information (cleaning status), the second display device 81 displays a cleaning status screen M10 as shown in FIG. 18A. The cleaning status screen M10 displays the cleaning status of the rice processing machines 1 (Store A1, Store A2, Store A3, Store B1, Store B2, Store C1) of the stores (Store A, Store B, Store C). For example, as shown in FIG. 18A, the cleaning status screen M10 displays the cleaning location of Store A1 of Store A, the cleaning timing, and the shortest cleaning time (shortest cleaning time) among the past 10 cleaning times. Therefore, the cleaning status of multiple rice processing machines 1 of the stores (Store A, Store B, Store C) can be confirmed on the cleaning status screen M10.

[0116] As shown in FIG. 19A, the second display device 81 can display a cleaning instruction screen M11 for sending a cleaning-related message (cleaning instruction information) to a store or a specified rice processing machine 1. The cleaning instruction screen M11 has a store input section 110, an identification information input section 130, and a message input section 131. When a store is input in the store input section 110, the cleaning instruction information input in the message input section 131 can be sent to the input store. When identification information is input in the identification information input section 130, the cleaning instruction information input in the message input section 131 can be sent to the rice processing machine 1 corresponding to the input identification information.

[0117] For example, if a user inputs into the message input unit 131, "A message is being sent from headquarters. Cleaning has been forgotten. Also, the cleaning time is extremely shorter than other stores. Please clean according to the manual," and then inputs into the identification information input unit 130 identification information corresponding to store A1, and selects the send button 133 shown on the cleaning instruction screen M11, the second display device 81 can transmit the cleaning instruction information input into the message input unit 131 to the first communication device 72 of store A1 via the communication device 3 of store A.

[0118] When the first communication device 72 of store A1 receives the cleaning instruction information transmitted from the support device 2, the display device 50 of store A1 displays the cleaning instruction information input in the message input section 131, as shown in Fig. 19B. The display device 50 of the rice processing machine 1 that received the cleaning instruction information, i.e., the display device 50 of store A1, displays a confirmation button 135 that notifies the support device 2 that the message has been confirmed, and when the confirmation button 135 is selected by the change switch, the first communication device 72 of store A1 transmits to the support device 2 that the cleaning instruction information has been confirmed.

[0119] After receiving confirmation of the cleaning instruction information from the first communication device 72 of store A1, the support device 2 requests cleaning information from the first communication device 72 of store A1 (the rice processing machine 1 that sent the confirmation of the cleaning instruction information to the support device 2) after a predetermined time (for example, one week or ten days), and the first communication device 72 of store A1 sends the current cleaning information to the support device 2.

[0120] As shown in Fig. 18B, the second display device 81 of the support device 2 can reconfirm the cleaning status screen M10 on the first communication device 72 of the store A1 (the rice processing machine 1 that transmitted the cleaning instruction information to the support device 2). Comparing Fig. 18A and Fig. 18B, it can be seen that the minimum cleaning time for the inside of the rice washing tank 22a, the drain jacket 23, the drain hose, and the water supply strainer 25f has been lengthened in Fig. 18B, and the cleaning timing has also been improved.

[0121] In the above-described embodiment, the rice washing tank 22a, the stirring member 22b, the drain jacket 23, the drain hose, and the strainer (water supply mesh) 25f are exemplified as the cleaning points, but the inner pot 17a, the lid 17c, and the like of the rice cooker 14 may be added to the cleaning points, and the support device 2 may display cleaning information (cleaning status), or the rice processing machine 1 may display cleaning instruction information. In other words, the cleaning points are not limited to the above-described examples, and parts of the rice cooker 14 that require cleaning may be added, or other parts may be added as cleaning points.

[0122] The rice processing machine 1 is equipped with a rice washing tank 22a for washing rice, an agitating member 22b provided in the rice washing tank 22a, a water supply and drainage device for supplying and draining water to and from the rice washing tank 22a, and a first communication device 72 for transmitting the cleaning status of any of the rice washing tank 22a, the agitating member 22b, and the water supply and drainage device 16 to an external device (support device) 2. This makes it possible to grasp the cleaning status of the rice processing machine 1 (the cleaning status of any of the rice washing tank 22a, the agitating member 22b, and the water supply and drainage device 16) even in places other than where the rice processing machine 1 is installed.

[0123] The rice processing machine 1 includes a rice cooker 14 that cooks rice that has been washed in a rice washing tank 22a, and a first communication device 72 transmits the cleaning status of the rice cooker 14 to an external device (support device) 2. This makes it possible to grasp the cleaning status of the rice cooker 14 in addition to the rice washing tank 22a, the stirring member 22b, and the water supply and drainage device 16 even in a place other than where the rice processing machine 1 is installed.

[0124] The first communication device 72 receives messages regarding cleaning from the external device (support device) 2. This allows the rice processing machine 1 to easily check messages regarding the cleaning status from the centralized management location, such as when the cleaning status is grasped by the external device (support device) 2 installed at the centralized management location (head office, etc.).

[0125] The rice processing machine 1 is equipped with a first display device 50 that displays a message, and a first communication device 72 notifies an external device (support device) 2 that the message has been confirmed. This allows the external device (support device) 2 installed at the central management location to easily know that the message has been confirmed by the rice processing machine 1.

[0126] The rice processing support system includes a rice processing machine 1 having a rice washing tank 22a for washing rice, an agitating member 22b provided in the rice washing tank 22a, a water supply and drainage device 16 for supplying and draining water to the rice washing tank 22a, and a first communication device 72 for transmitting the cleaning status of any of the rice washing tank 22a, the agitating member 22b, and the water supply and drainage device 16, and an external device (support device) 2 having a second communication device 83 for receiving the cleaning status from the first communication device 72, and a second display device 81 for displaying the cleaning status received by the second communication device 83. This makes it possible to grasp the cleaning status of the rice processing machine 1 (the cleaning status of any of the rice washing tank 22a, the agitating member 22b, and the water supply and drainage device 16) even in a place other than where the rice processing machine 1 is installed.

[0127] The second display device 81 displays the cleaning status of the rice processing machine 1. This allows the cleaning status of the rice processing machine 1 to be easily grasped by the second display device 81 of the external device (support device) 2 installed in a centralized management location (head office, etc.) or the like.

[0128] The second display device 81 displays the cleaning status as the cleaning time, the timing of cleaning (cleaning timing), or the area where cleaning was performed (cleaning area). This makes it possible to determine whether the cleaning time, the timing of cleaning (cleaning timing), and the area where cleaning was performed (cleaning area) in the rice processing machine 1 were appropriate.

[0129] The second communication device 83 transmits cleaning-related messages to the first communication device 72 for a specific rice processing machine 1, and the rice processing machine 1 includes a first display device 50 that displays the messages transmitted by the second communication device 83. With this, when the cleaning status is grasped by an external device (support device) 2 installed in a centralized management location (head office, etc.), a message regarding the cleaning status from the centralized management location is transmitted to the rice processing machine 1, and the rice processing machine 1 can easily check the transmitted message.

[0130] The control device 80 includes an operation information acquisition unit 80H. The operation information acquisition unit 80H acquires operation information of any one of the rice washing tank 22a, the stirring member 22b, the water supply and drainage device 16, and the rice cooker 14. Fig. 20A shows an example of the operation information of the rice washing tank 22a, the stirring member 22b, the water supply and drainage device 16, and the rice cooker 14.

[0131] As shown in FIG. 20A, the operation information acquisition unit 80H acquires, for example, the number of times rice is washed by the rice washing tank 22a (rice washing number), the total amount of rice washed, and the total washing time as operation information of the rice washing tank 22a and the stirring member 22b. The number of rice washings may be calculated, for example, by the total number of times each rice washing process (the number of times from the start of rice washing to the end of rice washing) S2 is performed, or by the total number of times the discharge valve 28 is opened and closed by driving the discharge drive unit 71c, or by the total number of times the shutter 17d is opened and closed by driving the shutter drive unit 71d, or by other methods. The total amount of rice washed may be calculated by the total weight measured by the weighing device 19 by driving the weighing drive unit 71a, or by other methods. The total rice washing time may be calculated by accumulating the time of each rice washing process S2. In addition, the total number of rotations of the motor when the washing-rice driving unit 71b is driven (the total number of stirrings of the stirring member 22b) may be used as the operation information of the stirring member 22b.

[0132] The operation information acquisition unit 80H acquires the total supply and drainage operation time and the total number of supply and drainage operations during which the water supply and drainage device 16 is operated, as operation information of the water supply and drainage device 16. The total supply and drainage operation time may be obtained from the total operation time of any of the drainage drive unit 71e, the first on-off valve 25c, and the flow rate sensor 25d, and the total number of supply and drainage operations may be obtained from the total number of opening and closing operations performed by opening and closing the opening and closing unit 40 by driving the drainage drive unit 71e, and the total number of opening and closing operations performed when the first on-off valve 25c and the flow rate sensor 25d are operated.

[0133] The operation information acquisition unit 80H acquires the total number of cooking times, the total amount of cooked rice, and the total cooking time of the rice cooker 14 as operation information. The total number of cooking times of the rice cooker 14 may be calculated from the total number of cooking steps S7 for each cooking time (the number of times from the start of cooking to the end of cooking for each cooking time), or from the total number of times the shutter 17d is opened and closed by driving the shutter driving unit 71d, or by other methods. The total amount of cooked rice may be calculated from the total measured weight measured by the measuring device 19 by driving the measuring driving unit 71a, or by other methods. The total cooking time may be calculated by accumulating the time of the cooking step S7 for each cooking time.

[0134] The above-mentioned methods of obtaining the operation information of the rice washing tank 22a, the stirring member 22b, the water supply and drainage device 16, and the rice cooker 14 are merely examples and are not limited thereto.

[0135] The operation information acquisition unit 80H stores operation information of the rice washing tank 22a, the stirring member 22b, the water supply and drainage device 16, and the rice cooker 14 in the storage device 73 on a regular or irregular basis, as shown in FIG. 20B.

[0136] The rice processing machine 1 regularly or irregularly transmits operation information of the rice washing tank 22a, the stirring member 22b, the water supply and drainage device 16 and the rice cooker 14 stored in the memory device 73, together with identification information, from the first communication device 72 via the third communication device 3 to the second communication device 83 of the support device 2.

[0137] When the second communication device 83 of the support device 2 receives the operation information and the identification information, the support device 2 stores the received operation information and identification information in the storage device 82. As shown in FIG. 21, the second display device 81 displays an operation information screen M12 when a predetermined operation is performed. The operation information screen M12 displays operation information transmitted from the rice processing machines 1 (Store A1 Machine, Store A2 Machine, Store A3 Machine, Store B1 Machine, Store B2 Machine, Store C1 Machine) for each store. The operation information screen M12 includes a store display section 89, an identification display section 91a, and an individual operation display section 140.

[0138] The control device 80 is equipped with a replacement determination unit 80I. The replacement determination unit 80I determines whether replacement is necessary or not based on operation information. As shown in Fig. 22, the storage device 82 has a replacement database of operation information of the rice washing tank 22a, the stirring member 22b, the water supply and drainage device 16, and the rice cooker 14, and part replacement timings. In Fig. 22, parts A to O are parts that make up the rice processing machine 1, and the numbers are only examples.

[0139] In Fig. 22, "whole" indicates the operation information of the replacement timing for replacing the entirety (whole) of each of the rice washing tank 22a, the stirring member 22b, the water supply and drainage device 16, and the rice cooker 14. Parts A and B are parts that make up the rice washing tank 22a, parts C and D are parts that make up the stirring member 22b, parts F to J are parts that make up the water supply and drainage device 16, parts K and L are parts that make up the rice cooker 14, and the others are parts other than those mentioned above that make up the rice processing machine 1. Note that the part replacement timing in Fig. 22 indicates a guideline for replacement each time the number of times, kg, time, etc. indicated in the operation information reach the number indicated in the part replacement timing. For example, part A indicates that it should be replaced every 500 times the rice is washed, every 3000 kg of total rice washed, and every 200 hours of total rice washing time.

[0140] The replacement judgment unit 80I judges that parts A to E need to be replaced when any of the number of times rice is washed, the total amount of rice washed, and the total time of rice washing reaches a value shown in the replacement database (part replacement time). The replacement judgment unit 80I also judges that parts F to J need to be replaced when any of the total supply and exhaust operation time and the total number of times of supply and exhaust operation reach a value shown in the part replacement time. The replacement judgment unit 80I judges that parts K to L need to be replaced when any of the total number of times rice is cooked, the total amount of rice cooked, and the total time of rice cooking reach a value shown in the part replacement time. The replacement judgment unit 80I judges that parts M to O need to be replaced when any of the number of times rice is washed, the total amount of rice washed, the total time of rice washing, the total time of supply and exhaust operation, the total number of times rice is cooked, the total amount of rice cooked, and the total time of rice cooking reach a value shown in the part replacement time.

[0141] When the replacement determination unit 80I of the support device 2 determines that replacement is necessary, the second communication device 83 notifies the first communication device 72 of the rice processing machine 1 that replacement is necessary. For example, when the number of times of washing rice in the store A1 reaches 1000 times, the second communication device 83 transmits a message (replacement message) instructing the store A1 to replace part B, for example, "Part B of the rice washing tank has reached the time to be replaced, so please replace it," to the first communication device 72 of the store A1. In this way, when the second communication device 83 notifies a specific rice processing machine 1, i.e., the first communication device 72 of the store A1, that a part needs to be replaced, information notifying the specific rice processing machine 1 (store A1) that has been notified of the part replacement is displayed on the operation information screen M12.

[0142] When the first communication device 72 of store A1 receives the replacement message, as shown in FIG. 23, the display device 50 of store A1 displays the replacement message notified by the replacement judgment unit 80I after operation ends (after the cooking completion process S9).

[0143] When the operation information indicates that a part needs to be replaced, the support device 2 orders the part that needs to be replaced. As described above, when the need arises to replace part B in the store A1 machine, as shown in FIG. 1, the support device 2 automatically sends order information for part B to the ordering system (sales reception computer) 160 of the company that manufactures or sells part B, thereby ordering part B. The order information includes identification information (product number) of part B and the supply location H1 where the store A1 machine is installed, so that part B is delivered to the store A. As shown in FIG. 23, the display device 50 of the store A1 machine displays a confirmation button 161, and when the confirmation button 135 is selected by the change switch, the support device 2 is notified that the replacement message has been confirmed. When the support device 2 receives the confirmation of the replacement message, it places an order for part B in the ordering system (sales reception computer) 160, and when the support device 2 does not receive the confirmation of the replacement message, it may not order part B.

[0144] The rice processing support system includes a rice processing machine 1 having a rice washing tank 22a for washing rice, an agitating member 22b provided in the rice washing tank 22a, a water supply and drainage device for supplying and draining water to and from the rice washing tank 22a, and a first communication device 72 for transmitting operation information of any of the rice washing tank 22a, the agitating member 22b, and the water supply and drainage device 16, and an external device (support device) 2 having a second communication device 83 for receiving the operation information from the first communication device 72, and a second display device 81 for displaying the operation information received by the second communication device 83. This makes it possible to grasp the operation status of the rice processing machine 1 (the operation status of any of the rice washing tank 22a, the agitating member 22b, and the water supply and drainage device 16) even in a place other than where the rice processing machine 1 is installed.

[0145] The rice processing machine 1 includes a rice cooker 14 that cooks rice that has been washed in a rice washing tank 22a, and a first communication device 72 transmits operation information of the rice cooker to an external device (support device) 2. This makes it possible to grasp the operating status of the rice cooker 14 in addition to the rice washing tank 22a, the stirring member 22b, and the water supply and drainage device 16 even in places other than where the rice processing machine 1 is installed.

[0146] The second display device 81 displays operation information of the rice processing machine 1. This allows the operating status of the rice processing machine 1 to be visually confirmed by looking at the second display device 81 even in a place other than where the rice processing machine 1 is installed.

[0147] The external device (support device) 2 is equipped with a replacement determination unit 80I which determines whether replacement is necessary based on the operation information, and the second communication device 83 notifies the first communication device 72 that replacement is necessary when the replacement determination unit 80I determines that replacement is necessary. This makes it possible to easily determine from the operation information whether the entire rice processing machine 1 or a part of the rice processing machine 1 needs to be replaced, and when it is determined that replacement is necessary, it is possible to directly notify the rice processing machine 1 that replacement is necessary. The rice processing machine 1 is able to know that replacement is necessary because operations are always performed when processing.

[0148] The second communication device 83 transmits a message to the first communication device 72 instructing a specific rice processing machine 1 to perform an exchange, and the rice processing machine 1 includes a first display device 50 that displays the message transmitted by the second communication device 83. This allows the exchange instruction to be quickly grasped by looking at the message displayed on the first display device 50 of the rice processing machine 1.

[0149] When the operation information indicates that a part needs replacing, the external device (support device) 2 orders the part. This allows the rice processing machine 1 to replace the part as quickly as possible, and prevents the rice processing machine 1 from continuing to operate when the part needs replacing.

[0150] In the above-described embodiment, the time (elapsed time) during which the cleaning instruction screen M9 is displayed is regarded as the cleaning time, but the removal of the rice washing tank 22a, the stirring member 22b, the drain jacket 23, the drain hose, the strainer (water supply mesh) 25f, the inner pot 17a, the lid 17c, etc. of the rice cooker 14 can be detected by a sensor or the like, and the time during which they are removed (removal time) can be regarded as the cleaning time.

[0151] In the above-described embodiment, the data was operation information of the drive units (measuring drive unit 71a, rice washing drive unit 71b, discharge drive unit 71c, shutter drive unit 71d, drainage drive unit 71e), but the operation of sensors, switches, etc. mounted on the rice processing machine 1 and errors in the drive units may also be included as operation information and is not limited to this.

[0152] In the above-described embodiment, the support device 2 (control device 80) is equipped with a result acquisition unit 80A, a period reception unit 80B, a period result calculation unit 80C, a rice processing planning unit 80D, a yield calculation unit 80E, a rice cooking setting creation unit 80F, an operation information acquisition unit 80H, and a replacement judgment unit 80I, but it does not have to be equipped with all of these, and one or more may be combined, and is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

[0153] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the embodiment disclosed herein should be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims, not the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0154] 1: Rice processing machine 2: Support equipment 13:Rice washing device 14: Rice cooker 50:Display device 62a: Amount of rice cooked 70A: Reservations Department 80A: Performance Acquisition Department 80B: Period reception section 80C: Period performance calculation section 80D: Rice Processing Planning Division 80F: Rice cooking setting creation section M7: Setting screen

Claims

1. A rice processing support system comprising: a plurality of stores each having one or more rice cookers for cooking rice, one or more rice cookers provided in each of the plurality of stores; and an external device that is installed in a location different from the rice cookers and that is arranged to transmit and receive data between the one or more rice cookers provided in each of the plurality of stores; The external device is provided with a rice cooking setting creation unit that creates new setting values ​​for cooking rice in the rice cooker by inputting information into a setting screen of the external device, The rice processing machine including the rice cooker is provided with a setting correction unit that corrects the setting value newly created by the rice cooking setting creation unit, the external device includes a restriction input unit that sets items that are permitted and items that are not permitted to be corrected by the setting correction unit, The external device transmits the setting value newly created by the rice cooking setting creation unit to each of one or more rice cookers installed in the plurality of stores, the external device requests each of the one or more rice cookers to transmit to the external device provision location information including the current setting value selected in each of the rice cookers; the one or more rice cookers transmit the current setting value to the external device as the provision location information in response to a request from the external device; When the current setting value transmitted from the rice cooker differs from the setting value newly created by the rice cooking setting creation unit, the external device determines that the rice cooker is not cooking rice according to the newly created setting value, and displays a store or rice processing machine that is not cooking rice according to the newly created setting value. Rice processing support system.

2. The rice cooker includes a display device for inputting a first rice cooking setting value, which is a current setting for the rice cooking, and a communication device capable of receiving the newly created setting value for the rice cooking. The rice processing support system according to claim 1.

Images